Celebrating Easter Abroad

< p>[#image: /photos/53e30696dddaa35c30f6a7cb]||||||< br>< em>He's less cuddly than a bunny, but the Aussies love their "Easter Bilby."< br>< em>Photo: < ahref="http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/about_the_epa/public_reporting/epa_bulletin/issue_11_22_march_2005/" target="perrin">Queensland gov. EPA < br>< p>< ahref="/perrin-post/2007/04/new_blogger_joi">By Tara Kyle< p>In the spirit of Easter, I thought I'd highlight a few of the stranger ways the holiday is being acknowledged around the world.< p>< ahref="http://www.concierge.com/destination/mexicocity">Mexico City: The middle and upper classes in landlocked Mexico City typically spend Easter fleeing for the coasts, but this year the city hosted the < ahref="http://www.worldhum.com/weblog/item/lifes_a_beach_in_mexico_city_20070405/" target="perrin">grand opening of a fake beach, according to < ahref="http://www.worldhum.com/" target="perrin">Worldhum. The idea of a spit of sand alongside a noisy road junction sounds pretty bizarre, not to mention that < ahref="http://www.reuters.com/" target="perrin">Reuters reports the < ahref="http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKN0326373920070403?feedType=RSS&pageNumber=1" target="perrin">government spent $200k on it. But I felt more sympathetic when I read Mayor Marcelo Ebrard's justification: "There are those upset by the artificial beaches. Perhaps they can get to other beaches, but this was built for the majority, and it's free."< p>< ahref="http://www.concierge.com/destination/australia">Australia: < ahref="http://www.treehugger.com/" target="perrin">TreeHugger reminds us that in Australia it's time to < ahref="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/get_hopping_its.php" target="perrin">"get hopping" for the "Easter Bilby." This little furball is sadly endangered, and since 1999 has been the subject of a passionate < ahref="http://www.savethebilbyfund.com/" target="perrin">"Save the Bilby" campaign.< p>< ahref="http://www.concierge.com/destination/london">London: Chocolatier < ahref="http://www.thorntons.co.uk/ThorntonsSite/pages/home/default.asp?&cookie%5Ftest=1" target="perrin">Thornton's built an < ahref="http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/4/4/4264/91952/travel/Londoners+Are+Pigs+%28When+Chocolate%27s+Around%29" target="perrin">860-pound chocolate billboard for Easter week, < ahref="http://www.jaunted.com/" target="perrin">Jaunted reports, only to watch passersby devour it within three hours of its Tuesday opening.< p>What are some other Easter traditions you've encountered?